New Harbeth Reference speaker !

[Masterlu]

Chenkong... Welcome to AA!

[beowulf]

Originally Posted by Chenkong

Harbeth M40.2...the biggest leap forward in sonic supremacy...takes the Harbeth sound to a new level...far beyond conventional loudspeaker listening.

Really?

"...but what is a “better” loudspeaker? The standard model, employing forward-firing dynamic drivers with a passive crossover in a closed box, has been refined to the point where further improvements are most unlikely. There are small ones and big ones, simple ones and elaborate ones, $600 ones and $45,000 ones, but if they are correctly designed (admittedly not always the case), the sound will always be of the same general quality—wide-range, smooth, effortless, but not quite real, with a slightly closed-down, boxy characteristic that says: loudspeaker, not live. There’s a ceiling in performance with this type of loudspeaker, maybe at three or four thousand dollars, above which you get very little, if anything, regardless of the hyperbolic claims and insane prices of some ultrahigh-end models. I have revived the old-time “monkey coffin” label, used by 1970s hi-fi salesmen, for this category of box speakers. There are dinky little monkey coffins and huge expensive monkey coffins, but they all sound like monkey coffins, more or less..."

Don't waste your money on the M40.2!

Welcome Chenkong.

Is the quote you posted from a review or something?

[Chenkong]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Chenkong... Welcome to AA!

Hi! Thanks

[Jerome W]

"Monkey coffins". Funny expression !

[bart]

Originally Posted by Chenkong

Harbeth M40.2...the biggest leap forward in sonic supremacy...takes the Harbeth sound to a new level...far beyond conventional loudspeaker listening.

Really?

"...but what is a “better” loudspeaker? The standard model, employing forward-firing dynamic drivers with a passive crossover in a closed box, has been refined to the point where further improvements are most unlikely. There are small ones and big ones, simple ones and elaborate ones, $600 ones and $45,000 ones, but if they are correctly designed (admittedly not always the case), the sound will always be of the same general quality—wide-range, smooth, effortless, but not quite real, with a slightly closed-down, boxy characteristic that says: loudspeaker, not live. There’s a ceiling in performance with this type of loudspeaker, maybe at three or four thousand dollars, above which you get very little, if anything, regardless of the hyperbolic claims and insane prices of some ultrahigh-end models. I have revived the old-time “monkey coffin” label, used by 1970s hi-fi salesmen, for this category of box speakers. There are dinky little monkey coffins and huge expensive monkey coffins, but they all sound like monkey coffins, more or less..."

Don't waste your money on the M40.2!

Chenkong, a warm welcome!!
Please consider this is a friendly forum.
There are passionate Harbeth lovers here.
I understand you don't like them as much as they do.
You can freely express that.
But monkey coffins... is disrespectful.

[Bluemcintosh]

Originally Posted by bart

chenkong, a warm welcome!!
Please consider this is a friendly forum.
There are passionate harbeth lovers here.
I understand you don't like them as much as they do.
You can freely express that.
But monkey coffins... Is disrespectful.

haters.jpg

[Bluemcintosh]

I spent some time with SHL5 and SHL5 + side by side.

SHL5 plus - Takes the SHL5 sound closer to that of the more 'modern' sounding . Some aspects ( Especially Bass department ) of the sound are notably improved but somehow with these improvements I found my attention drawn more towards analysis of the sound rather than just enjoying the music in the SHL5.

And M40.2 will have a same character change sounds over M40.1. I would rather have a M40.1

[magoo]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harbe...ts-18352218981

If anyone in London wants a listen, I noticed this event elsewhere.
And I can't find the exact figure, but I read somewhere the price was eventually brought down to somewhere around £10,500.

Still a trifle large for my room or indeed wallet mind

[Chenkong]

Originally Posted by bart

Chenkong, a warm welcome!!
Please consider this is a friendly forum.
There are passionate Harbeth lovers here.
I understand you don't like them as much as they do.
You can freely express that.
But monkey coffins... is disrespectful.

No offence meant to harbeth lovers...I am also a harbeth user.
Harbeth likes to criticise other hifi component manufacturers for making hyperbole of their products...but take a look at their own website...it's full of hyperbole! The m40.2 has the same cabinet and drivers as the m40.1 ...so how much difference can it possibly sound?

[audiomania]

I've always been interested in hearing these 40.x speakers but if the opportunity ever presented itself I would fear being let down. When I see a price tag of 13-19k I immediately think of speakers like Wison Sophia 3, B&W 802-800D and Revel Studio II or Salon II caliber speakers. I can't imgaine these Harbeths competing or even belonging side by side with these giants.

I mean no disrespect to those who own and love them but what could these things possibly do compard to the others previously mentioned that justifes the asking price? I do love the look of them and the high likelyhood of them working well in small rooms but under the same constraints can these things compete with something like the Magico Mini II with a sub?